Merry Christmas...okay, yeah, it's Christmas Eve, but whatever! Anyway, here is the next chapter. One more to go after this and then this story is done! No, I shouldn't say that. This part of the story is done. Let's not forget the sequel! Also, I loved reading your reactions to the last chapter. Sorry, but this is an emotional chapter again. I know most of you like those as well, but some are more into action filled chapters. I felt like I really need to show how Creamstep's death had a toll on the other characters.

I want to mention that the next chapter is the last chapter of this part of the story. There will be another one with little bits of the sequel as well as the summary and facts about this story!

Fact: There was never going to be a chapter about Foxstep's reaction, as well as Rainstorm's. This seemed ridiculous though because the cat Creamstep was closest to was indeed Foxstep.

The space beside him felt empty. Foxstep felt cold, curled up in his nest at night. There was no Creamstep.

It couldn't be happening again. He had felt the heartbreak and the pain before, and now it was doubled. He never thought that he could love any other cat like he had loved Sweetpaw, but he was wrong. Once he fell for Creamstep, the love he felt was stronger since he was now more protective and fearful of her passing. He always checked it make sure she was okay, and the one time he wasn't there for her, Creamstep died.

"Creamstep," he whispered to himself, the word making his heart ache. He wished he could hear her voice. He never even got to say goodbye. Rainstorm had always told him that Creamstep loved him very much, and that no goodbye was necessary. She had persisted that their love would keep him sane and help him say goodbye to her, but he couldn't.

Thoughts had been swarming his brain ever since he got the news. Now, he frequently feared of ever caring for another cat. It seemed impossible, yet it had when Sweetpaw died as well. But now...now he could never be sure if he would lose her again.

That's when he decided it. Foxstep made a promise to never fall in love again. He would only end up hurt. He cherished the memories of Creamstep, but she was dead. She was gone. He was alone.

Foxstep got to his paws and slipped out of the den, feeling trapped in there. He was also sick of cats offering their sympathies. It's not like they knew anything about what he felt, or how tragic his loss really was. They pitied him, and he didn't want their pity.

Surprisingly, Rainstorm was outside of the den as well, sound asleep. She jerked awake at the sound of his approaching footsteps, sending a wave of guilt over him. Foxstep crouched down next to her. They had quickly grown closer ever since the accident. She was the only cat who understood.

"Hey," Rainstorm whispered, blinking at him. She shifted her weight around, staring at her grey paws in the dirt. "How are you feeling, Foxstep? I know how annoying it must be to get asked that. I am tired of hearing it too, honestly. I know every cat means well, but for StarClan's sake, of course I am not okay! That was my sister!" He voice cracked a little at the end of her speech.

Foxstep nodded, shutting his eyes. "I get it. They aren't saying that they're sorry for what happened because they mean it. For some reason they feel obligated. I guess they are sorry it happened, but no cat could ever feel the pain that you and I have felt. Except Dappleleaf, maybe."

"Yeah, I hope she's holding up," Rainstorm meowed, glancing up at him. Her blue eyes radiated in the dark, reminding him of Creamstep's own eyes. "Creamstep's death obviously rattled her, but I am more worried about Spruce."

"Spruce? That wretched cat who helped Rosethorn kill Creamstep?" Foxstep gasped in disbelief.

"Not about him, but his death. What I mean is, I am worried about how Dappleleaf coped with the fact that she killed him. She's always been the tame sister. Sure, she was a bit of a queen as a kit, but she grew into a really great cat. Killing...I could never imagine her doing something like that. It's awful that I can say that killing a cat doesn't effect me, not if they earned it."

"Rosethorn earned everything she got," Foxstep added, feeling a surge of hatred for the white, dead she-cat. "You're right, though. I always pictured Dappleleaf as a damsel in distress type, just like Sweetpaw. She's not. She is brave, but soft and vulnerable, and a killer isn't who she is."

"You never answered," Rainstorm pointed out, rolling on to her side. She snuggled herself into a moss patch and turned to him. "How are you holding up? You clearly avoided the question. I would know. It's what I've been doing."

"I am not fine, but I made a deal with myself."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"I'm not going to care for any other cat. Ever again. I always end up hurt." Foxstep sighed, realizing how terrible his plan sounded. What else could he do? Fall in love for a third time? Get his heart broken again?

Rainstorm leapt to her paws, eyes wide. "What? No!" She leaned closer to Foxstep, her icy blue eyes serious. "No...No! That is not what Creamstep would want. I care about what you want, Foxstep, but I care about what she wants more. She wants you to be happy."

"How would you know?" Foxstep questioned suspiciously. He also got to his paws, warily looking her up and down. "Has she spoken with you? Tell me, Rainstorm!"

"Yes! Okay! She visited me tonight. She was planning on seeing you, too. She told me how Dappleleaf was holding up, sort of. I was still curious, clearly. She left out a lot of details. I want you to go to sleep right now. Let her talk some sense into you." With that, Rainstorm guided Foxstep to her make shift moss nest and sat him down.

Foxstep felt a tingle of anticipation, excitement, and worry run through him. He wanted to see Creamstep more than anything, but what if she never came? Sweetpaw never came, either, aside from Dappleleaf's performance.

Foxstep didn't hesitate to shut his eyes and let his mind drift off...

He was in StarClan, for sure. Where was Creamstep? He began to feel worried, causing him to start pacing. "No...she's here. Rainstorm saw her. Dappleleaf saw her...she's here! She has to be!"

"Foxstep." A comforting voice touched his ears. He whirled around to find the pale tan colored warrior waiting in front of him, her blue eyes flooding with affection and love.

"C-Creamstep!" Foxstep gasped, bounding forward and nuzzling her cheek. "I have missed you! I can't believe you're here...you have no idea what's it's been like." He took a step back. "Why is this the first time you visited me? Why see me last?"

"I needed to see my sisters," Creamstep meowed, twining her tail with his. "For my own reasons. You mean just as much to me." She rested her head on his shoulder, letting out a purr of contentment. "You cannot imagine how much I have missed you. It has been so hard not seeing you every night when you fall asleep."

"Well, why not?" Foxstep asked, almost positive he knew the answer. "Wait, let me guess. You want me to move on, correct? Live my life? Find some other cat. It isn't happening, Creamstep. I loved Sweetpaw, and I lost her. That broke my heart, but you helped me heal. Now you died too...any other cat who I care about will die."

"Don't say that," Creamstep chided, shaking her head. She stepped away from him, causing Foxstep to feel the same emptiness he felt in the warrior's den all alone. "Dappleleaf is alive, and so is Rainstorm."

"Yes, they're my friends...I meant I won't ever fall in love again." He sighed, wishing that Creamstep was not dead, and they could grow old and have a family.

"You will," Creamstep assured. "Don't peg me for the jealous type, alright, but I may have heard a few rumors around StarClan about the ext cat will make you have hope.."

Foxstep snorted in disbelief. "I can't, Creamstep. I can't love anyone else." He turned away, the thought of replacing the cat standing in front of him was cringing. "You were my ultimate true love."

Creamstep let out a purr. "I know. You will always love me, just like you will always love Sweetpaw. But that doesn't me you have to close off your heart to others." She took a wary sigh. "I have to tell you," she spoke softly now. "I didn't want you to know, but I can't harbor this secret. You deserve to know."

"What?" Foxstep leaned forward, intrigued. "Creamstep, nothing could change much now, can it? What do you want to say?"

Creamstep took a shaky breath in. "Before the Gathering, I went to see the medicine cat because I felt very sick. He told me that...that I was carrying kits. Your kits." She fell silent, shyly looking up at him.

"My kits?" Foxstep stuttered with shock. No. No no no! This can't be happening. It can't get worse, it can't! But it was worse. Now he knew that not only did he lose his mate, who stood by him through everything, he lost his future family. "It must be a mistake. Rushwater hasn't said anything! Why didn't you tell me?"

"I planned on it," Creamstep meowed quietly. "After the Gathering. I'm so, so sorry, Foxstep."

Foxstep barely heard her last words. His head spun and remorse pulled him farther into it's grasp. He shut his eyes and regained his composure. "It isn't you fault. I'm sorry, for you."

Creamstep's blue eyes lit with surprise. "Sorry for me?" she asked in confusion. Foxstep gave a nod. As much as it hurt him, they were also Creamstep's kits. She lost them, just as he did. "No cat has told me that yet. Thank you."

"I really love you, Creamstep." Foxstep meowed slowly. "Please, don't go. I need you here. I don't want to love another cat, I just want to love you. We can still be together. Dappleleaf and Ashfall loved each other even though they only saw each other at night!"

"I know. But they're alive. They were able to figure something out to make it real. Us? Well, I'm dead. I'm gone. I am not coming back. You didn't deserve this, I know that. You didn't deserve to be abandoned once again. I wish more than anything to be able to be with you right now."

"You didn't deserve this either," Foxstep whispered, nudging her with affection. "I will never forget you. Never."

I must know what you think! I am requesting...mmm...406 reviews for a new chapter! Let's see how quickly we can get them!

Next chapter: When Dappleleaf finally realizes that she can finally be happy, her life takes a dangerous twist, one that threatens her future happiness and survival.

Question: Who do you think Foxstep will fall for? Do you think he will, or was Creamstep wrong?